When the rains may come (Science Fiction)

4. The Disguise

Four months ago.

"Three hundred people heavily injured. Seventy seven people succumbed to death. Twenty three among those died in the riots itself. Others died from the injuries they sustained. What has humanity come to now? These were normal people. These were your friends, your neighbors, your spouses who turned feral. And none of them were infected. None of them had the virus. These were 'normal' people who did the things they did." The news announcer's voice hissed through the radio. "The carnage that they left behind, streets painted with blood, houses burnt. The sector 21 City Hall, vandalized, the deaths of five government officials at the hands of these rioters who managed to break in through the barricades. The question is: after so many deaths whose hands are the ones drenched with the most blood?" Another hiss of static, a sigh of sadness, exasperation. "Today we have the spokesperson for the Seat of Authority, Eli Hodges himself in the studio with us to express sadness on the behalf of the government. What is the Seat of Authority's opinion on the mayhem in sector 21?" the announcer asked.

Another hiss of a sad sigh. Then a voice spoke. "When I speak, I speak as a human being, and the Seat of Authority is held by nothing but more humans. The events and consequences that unraveled in sector 21 are not just unfortunate, they are devastating for humanity. People have lost their families, their homes in the destruction. As tragic as it is what happened, it is still wrong to blame it all on the public. I feel like a failure as a part of the government for having to have witnessed an event like this. A big share of the blame rests on the government's shoulders. In fact, the First Leader has sent the message that he takes full responsibility for what happened."

"Why? Why does he want to shoulder the blame all by himself?"

"Even I asked that to him myself. And the following is the answer he gave: 'Because this country is my home. The people we lost to the riots aren't just citizens, they are my family. My own people that I lost. My heart is so heavy with sadness that it might just fall out of my chest.'" Another hiss of static.

"Truly saddening," the announcer said.

"Indeed. But this isn't the time to mourn and grieve. It is times like these that remind us how important it is to stand together. And fight together. So to inspire everyone the First Leader has decided something. The following are his words again: 'For all the citizens, all my dear family members of this big family of mine, come join the government to heal the wounds these riots have inflicted on the society in Sector 21. All the poor injured are writhing in their sick beds, tormented by the pain, the citizens and rescue operatives alike. They need your help. Report to Sector 21 as quickly as you can to offer help. This country will be forever grateful to you, my dear doctors, rescuers, fighters. You will be compensated for your efforts. Reach out to offer help and be helped in return. It is not strangers who are asking for your help. It is your own family. And I'm asking this, not as the First Leader of the country, not as the head of the seat of authority. But as just another one of your family members. Please, your family needs your help.'"

Then an automated message spoke: "Note down the following radio-frequency to contact the Sector 21 Rescue and Relief for further details and inquiry..."

Clint noted down the frequency.

"What are you doing?" Marie asked. They were in the living room of their house in Sector 21. It wasn't really their house but a house they were squatting in.

"I'm gonna apply as a doctor to help the Rescue and Relief department," Clint said, as he quickly reached into his back pack and searched around for their portable CB radio.

"Honey, Zack is injured, I won't be able to look after him while also scavenging for supplies. Someone has to stay near him at all times," she said in a low voice, so as not to wake up their son who was asleep in the next room, burning with a fever.